More severe lung disease tied to worse outcomes in AAV-ILD

Among people with ANCA-associated vasculitis (AAV) and interstitial lung disease (ILD), severe lung scarring and poorer lung function at the time of ILD diagnosis are tied to a higher risk of lung disease progression, respiratory failure, and death, a European study shows.

More severe lung disease tied to worse outcomes in AAV-ILD. Among people with ANCA-associated vasculitis (AAV) and interstitial lung disease (ILD), severe lung scarring and poorer lung function at the time of ILD diagnosis are tied to a higher risk of lung disease progression, respiratory failure, and death, a European study shows. ILD is a condition marked by inflammation and progressive scarring of lung tissue, and a common lung manifestation of AAV. Data also showed that treatment with rituximab (sold as Rituxan, with biosimilars available) was associated with the greatest improvements in lung function, especially in patients with more severe lung scarring. This study highlights “the need for early identification and individualized treatment in ILD associated with AAV,” and “identified meaningful clinical, radiologic, and prognostic fe...